Reversible mining chain



June 10, 1952 J, JOY 2,599,837

REVERSIBLE MINING CHAIN Filed Feb. 19, 1949 33 1220622202. cfasepfz 5 1/0 Patented June 10,1952 I r a a I REVERSIBLE MINING CHAIN Joseph F. Joy, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 19, 1949, Serial No. 77,417

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to mining chains and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a reversible cutter chain especially designed for use with the cutter bar of a coal cutting machine.

Coal cutting machines for cutting kerfs in the coal of a coal seam usually have a cutter bar provided with a marginal guideway in which an endless cutter chain is guided for circulation about the bar, and a drive sprocket is usually arranged at one end of the cutter bar for engaging and driving the cutter chain. Such cutter chains are ofttimes reversible and have chain blocks provided with supporting means for receiving and supporting reversible cutter bits which may be reversibly positioned on the blocks and secured in place when cutting in reverse directions is desired. The present invention contemplates improvements over known types of reversible cutter chains in that the cutter bits may be reversibly positioned and supported on the chain blocks and secured in place in an improved manner. Also, the chain blocks of the present invention are of improved construction and the securing means for the cutter bits are arranged in a novel manner on the blocks whereby the cutter bits are supported and held in place in an extremely rigid manner, and the block lugs are formed with transverse portions or end enlargements which not only protect the bit securing means from the abrasive action of the coal during the cutting of a kerf but also serve to convey the cuttings created by the cutter bits during the kerf cutting operation, outwardly from the keri'.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mining chain. Another object is to provide an improved reversible cutter chain having improved chain block structures for receiving and supporting the cutter bits in reversed positions thereon. A further object is to provide an improved reversible cutter chain having an improved bit socket arrangement whereby the cutter bits may be firmly supported in cutting position on the blocks and readily reversed when desired. Yet another object is to provide an improved arrangement of the bit securing means for securing the bits in reversed positions on the chain blocks. A still further object is to provide an improved reversible cutter chain having a novel chain block structure for supporting the cutter bits in either of their reversed positions thereon, and adjustable devices, desirably set screws, arranged in a novel manner on the block lugs and engaging cutter bits whereby the bits may be firmly secured in position. Still another object is to provide an improved chain lug structure whereby the adjustable devices or set screwsfor securing the bits on the blocks are arranged in a novel manner so that the adjustable devices or set screws are protected against abrasive action as the result of contact with the coal during. the kerf cutting operation. A still further object is to provide an improved chain block structure having bit receiving lugs of a novel design, including transverse portions or end enlargements which serve to convey the cuttings from the kerf in an improved manner. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing there are shown for purposes of illustration two forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a cutter chain constructed in accordance with the preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the "lacing of the cutter bits on the chain indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 5 is a central horizontal vertical sectional view taken through the chain block shown at the right in Fig. 1, illustrating details of the block structure.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the cutter chain, showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

In this illustrative construction, as shown in the drawing, the improved cutter chain is especially designed for use with a cutter bar of a coal cutting machine, but it will be evident that the particular manner of mounting the bit for operation in reverse directions may be employed with the disintegrating chains of the digging head of a continuous mining apparatus.

The chain disclosed herein comprises a series of chain blocks l pivotally connected by side strap links 2. Fitted in transverse bores 3 in the blockbases are bushings 4, and rivets 5 pass through these bushings and through alined bores 6 in the strap links and are headed over or peened at I at their ends for securing the parts against lateral displacement. The bases of the chain blocks are recessed at 8 to provide tooth-rehave transverse shelf-like projections or ledges I which projectlaterally at theeuter periphery of the cutter bar, outwardly of 1711620113111 guideway.

enlargements I3, I 3 which extend laterally, in

the manner shown, to the puteredgesmf the? shelf-like projections I0 sothat,recessespr-pockets l4 and I5 are provided at the sides of the lugs between the transverse end portions 13. The lugs I2 are relatively inclined at different angles on different blocks, and have longitudinalsockts or openings l6, desirably of rectangular cross seotiom extending from end .to. endthrough-the lusscen n li e slot n r ss s l -e tnd lat rand o a rom t ockets, I61 attire ppositeends of the lugs wee Fig.5). The, sockets l6 havev parallel upper and lower :walls l8 and l 9 .extending longitudinally of g the v blocks and the recesses H have oppositely inclinedginner walls 20, as clearlyshown in Fig. 5.

Ag reversible double ended cutter bit generally .designatedaZL similar to that disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 57,04'7, filed October-2 8, 1-948, has abody 23 comprising -relatively inclined-cutting portions or arms 24 and ZB-disp sed-at an obtuse angle. The cutter'bit may desi ably-be or" rectangular crosssection,

andihenq ra m h v p aneoutersuriaces, 26 au filen -u ra s1-;. nner urf szfiandzs. the outer and inner. s ur-faces intersecting along straight lines lying in a plane bisectingthe-Vbit bedy at-the apex of theangle, Theouter -sur-.

iaees zfi and}? alterr-iatively provide the working faces of-=the shit and terminate in. cutting points 30 and 31 at the opposite extremitiesof' the bit. The, side surfaces 32 of each cutting no stan ia-liy alonga receding rear edge 33, and are so arranged as to provide adequate clearance for the 7 front surfaces of e the points. Thus a symmetrical double pointed bit is provided; which may bereversedend for-endto present eithercutting point to the work.

- Theeutter bits are reversible in the tbloclrlugs, withtheac utt n p r ion o the h t l in with-theirf-inner ends in the frontreeesses H and the rear surface 28 of thebit abuttin -the inner: walls- 20, and with the inactive cutting portions. received in the -longitudinal sockets 16 with the outer bit surfaces 21 restingyagainst the bettoin soc-ketwalls l9. When; the 3011131581 t re pro e l p s t n t e uedsos t andres ses-t from a t v litt n i o rro- Jes outwardly iand-ao r om the ro t end: sprig-ee s of the block lugs, in. the manner h wn-in Fi 1- the preferred; embodiment of the invention 1 shown in Figs.-1 to 5 inclusivd;the bloek lugs .,are iormed at theirsideswith threaded openings 35 whieh..,enter the sidesof-the longitudinalsockets lfi rn-idway. between the-ends of the. block lugs, and these. openings receive relatively smallset screwsjfi which; when threaded inwardly inthe openings, engage the adjacent sides-oithe inactiveportions of the, bits forrigidly; securing thebits in cutting position onthe blocks. These sstsorew smot co v t onal desi n an have The improved chain blocks I have lateral lugs" l2 formed with transverse end portions or end arerelatively inclined and intersect sub- :the chain block and strap link structures are simisquare heads which are arranged in the pockets M at the sides of the lugs between the transverse rib-portions l3, so that the set screw heads are protected from the abrasive action of the coal during the kerf cutting operation. The transverse end portions I3 provide conveyor vanes or ribs which serve to convey the cuttings created by the geutter "bits during the cutting operation, outwardly fromthekerf. r

In the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 6

Jan 120 1 3058 above described and, in this instance. the block lugs 52' have threaded openings 31 at their teps and:these openings enter the socket -I5;at-their;tops,;and threaded in these openings "are smallset screws 38 which, when threaded in 29 oi'the inactive portions of the cutter bits to secureythe cutter bits firmly in position on the chain blocks. The heads of these set screws are, in this;instan ce,-located onthe lugs rearwardly oftheactive portions of the cutter bitsso that they are ..to :a large extent protected from the abrasive action of the coal.

In both embodiments, thesocketsand recesses for receiving'the cutter bitsrare symmetrically arranged. on .the blocklugs .so that thecutter bitsrnay ,bereversed endfor end with-respect tothe block lugs thereby to enable the cutter chain to.,cut in either direction. .Theset screws, due to their. central. location. on the block lugs, may secure :the bits in position. in eitherreversed position .of the bits. The ,sooliets and. recesses. in the relatively inclined lugsonthe different chain blocks enable positioning of: the bitsiat relatively difierent'angles, as shown indottedlinesat Fig. 2, to providefor ,proper lacing? of: the bit .on the chain. The cutterbitsby the provision .of two. cutting points may be reversed. end :.ior.-end with respect to the. block lugs. irrespective .of .the ,direotionlof cuttin so that sharp cutting points may 'bepresented to the-Worklwhen therother points become dull.

As a result of this inventionan improvedrre- .versible cutter chain is provided whereinthe cutter bits may ,be. firmly supported .and-secured ;-in cutting, position on the :chain, blocks and ;\may be readilyreversed with respect to .the chain blocks, without rearrangement of thgsecurin r meanson the blocks. The novel block lug structures. by the. provision of the end transverse portions mayfserveas cutting conveyors and. the intermediate pockets. at the sidsof the lugs enables location of the set screws withinthe pockets t p otect the; s e ew headsirom theabrasive action .of the coal. The novel arrangement of, the

lug. -sockets .and communicating :recesses provides extremely stable sup-portsfor thecutter .bits

either of;.,their;reversed.positions onthe block lugs. The m-ining chain, is relatively Simple .and rugged in design well adaptedto meet theses/ere .demandswof servioep encountered in the. miningof coal. Other advantages. of the miention will he clearly apparent. to those, skilledinvthenart.

While there are in. this,applicationspecifically described two. forms whichthe. invention inayassume in practice, it will .be. understood .thatth e forms of the sameare shown, for purposeseof i1.- lustration and thatthe inventionmaybe modified and embodied in. various other forms without departing from itsjspirit orthe scope ofthe appended claim. 7 7

.What Lclaim vas new. and desire -to secure by ,LettersPatentis: V In a reversible cutter chain .a reversihle chain block of symmetrical shape having a base and a lateral lug, said lateral lug having end enlargements providing a depression centrally between the ends of said lug, said enlargements having bit receiving sockets opening longitudinally therethrough for selectively receiving a cutter bit in either of the reversed positions of the bit with respect to said lug, a cutter bit reeeivagle selectively in said sockets of said lug enlargements and projecting forwardly and outwardly from the front end of said lug in either reversed position of the bit, and an adjustable securing element adjustably mounted on the central portion of said lug midway between the ends of the latter and engageable with said bit in either reversed position of the latter for securing said bit in cutting position on the block, said lug having a longitudinal opening within its central portion for joining said sockets and said bit having a portion receivable in said longitudinal opening in either position of said bit and engageable by said securing element, said securing element having its outer portion lying within said depression between said lug enlargements whereby said adjustable element is protected by said lug enlargements against abrasion due to contact with the material being cut by the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of operation of the chain, said end enlargements of said lug having transverse portions of substantial lateral extent projecting laterally beyond the sides of said block-base and providing cuttings conveyor vanes which selectively serve to convey the cuttings created by the cutter bit during either direction of operation of the chain.

JOSEPH F. JOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

